board of directors

2017 Board of Directors

Haley Zapal, Chair

Haley’s passion for female representation and empowerment in music began in college, where her love of Sleater-Kinney spurred her to host Odd Man Out on WUOG 90.5FM at the University of Georgia. She began volunteering for Girls Rock Camp ATL in the summer of 2012, handling photography and social media duties. Haley later taught several workshops on the history of women in music, and joined the board in 2014. When she’s not at rock camp, she is a lawyer-turned-copywriter and spends most of her time on the quest for the perfect taco and buying more books she doesn’t need.

Tristin Chipman, Treasurer

Tristin’s dedication to furthering the mission of Girls Rock Camp is a result of various intersections in her life. She spent a lot of time behind the scenes in music as a tour manager for artists such as The Tragically Hip, Beck, Prince, and the Indigo Girls and as a local event producer in Toronto, Canada. Tristin gave up life on the road when she and her partner welcomed a future camper in 2012, and she completed graduate school with her Master of Social Work and certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2017. Tristin believes in the power of music and creativity when it comes to self expression and encourages everyone to question anyone that tells them to turn their music down.

Kristin Anderson, Secretary

Kristin directs Emory’s Office of Foundation relations, a role she began in August 2015. She has worked in the field of higher education, non-profit, research, and foundation relations for over fifteen years. Kristin holds a B.A. in English Literature with an emphasis in Women’s Studies from California State University, Fullerton and pursued graduate work at San Francisco State University, prior to beginning her career in development. Kristin was first introduced to the Girls Rock organization in Durham, North Carolina where her oldest daughter participated in both Girls Rock NC’s After School programs and summer camps for five years. When her family relocated to Atlanta, she was thrilled to find out that the Girls Rock Atlanta Camp was a thriving organization. Kristin joined the GRCATL Board of Directors in Fall of 2016. Kristin considered it a privilege to be invited to join such an empowering community and to surround herself with such an amazing group of women and campers who ROCK!

Ruby Velle

Ruby Velle is a multi-passionate singer/songwriter with a focus on empowering minorities. As a front woman of Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics, she channels messages for all humanity through writing and performing soul music, an interpretation of emotions that is deeply connected to her roots and diverse family history growing up in the south. Her cultural background as East Indian American woman born in Canada and now living in Atlanta has helped her to excel in leadership roles that represent minority groups, especially in this current movement to empower women to become their best selves. Ruby has been a camp guest artist, vocal coach, producer and Girls Rock Camp enthusiast since meeting Stacey Singer over 5 years ago. She continues to advocate for women musicians through her recent board of directors role with GRCATL. She wildly exclaims to every camper “DON’T BE SORRY… YOU ROCK!!!”

Emily Backus

Emily teaches music at Montgomery Elementary School in DeKalb County. When not creating soundscapes with tiny rockstars, she sings and strums as one half of Total Babe and The Skipperdees. She tries to live each day as Dolly Parton would wish.